Sorting machine



June 10, 1941. D. c. cox

SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. BY flay/'0C COX ATTORNEYS June 10, 1941. D. c. cox

SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BY flaw/'0C. 60X

8 1 $18 K QM ATTORNEYS June 10, 1941. Q o 2,244,826

SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 III IN VENTOR.

BY iw wi ATTORNEY5 June 10, 1941. D. c. cox 2,244,826

SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3," 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.

' A joRNEYs June 10, 1941. c, cox 2,244,826

IIIIIIIIIIII NE Patented June 10, 1941 soa'rmo mourns David 0. Cox.Lowell, Mich, assignor to Electric Sorting Machine Company, GrandRapids,

Mich.

Application August 3, 1938, Serial No. 222,787 29 Claims. (Cl. 209-111)This invention relates to improvements in sorting machines.

The main objects of my invention are:

a First, to provide a novel and improved machine for sorting articles onthe basis of the relative color reflectivity thereof which is operativethroughout a practically unlimited color range.

Second, to provide a sorting machine capable of classifying objects inaccordance with hue as distinguished from brightness.

Third, .to provide a sorting machine capable of classifying objects inaccordance with both hue and brightness simultaneously.

Fburth, to provide a sorting machine which, with a single inspection,can make a plurality of totally independent decisions and subsequentlymake appropriate disposition of the inspected articles.

Fifth, to provide a sorting machine whose decisions may be based on twoindependent variables.

Sixth, to provide a machine of the type described having photoelectricmeans for scanning a plurality of articlw to be sorted in combinationwith cathode ray tube means for receiving a primary signal originatingin said photoelectric means, the said cathode ray means acting tooriginate a. secondary signal in further photoelectric means viewing thecathode ray screen as exposed by a mask.

Seventh, to provide a machine of the type described embodying a cathoderay tube, the said tube constituting control means for determining theactuation of ejecting means.

Eighth, to provide a machine embodying a cathode ray tube adapted tohave signals from a suitable originating source impressed on thedeflecting plates thereof, and sentinel means associated with saidcathode ray means and adapted to receive an indication therefrom.

Ninth, to provide a selective transmitting means including a cathode raytube of the defleeting plate type and having a selectively maskedfluorescent screen whereby only a predetermined portion of the screen iseffective for light transmission.

Tenth, to provide in combination with a cathode ray tube means wherebylight impingements on only a portion of its fluorescent screen aretranslated to subsequently operated means.

Eleventh, to provide a cathode ray controlling and actuating mechanismof broad utility.

Twelfth, to provide a novel sorting machine whose versatility isaugmented by including means for making reflectivity measurements of twocolors and means whereby acceptance or rejection may be determined inaccordance with any prescribed values, either independent of or mutuallydependent on said measurements.

Further objects relating to details and economies of my invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdefined in the claims.

A structure embodying the fetaures of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a practical embodiment of my inventionespecially adapted or designed as a sorting machine for citrus fruit.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective, illustrating therotatable article carrier, the ejector mechanism, and the articleilluminating and scanning housing of my machine in operative relation toone another.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the illuminating and scanninghousing and the article carrier, partially broken away and in verticalsection to illustrate the construction and operative relation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which thephotoelectric scanner views an article to analyze the color componentsthereof by light reflected therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the operativerelation of a cathode ray tube, a mask, and a photoelectric sentineltube which constitute important features of this invention.

Figs. 6 and 6A illustrate the wiring diagram for the electricalactuating circuit of the machine, the said diagram being broken into twoparts along line AA.

Fig. 7 is a representation of the screen of a cathode ray tube, havingsuperposed thereon-a diagram or chart illustrating the behavior of thecathode ray trace while the machine scans various articles.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a detail of construction or assembly of amodified embodiment of my invention. 7

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is a machine for sortingarticles such as citrus fruits into various classifications according tocolor and, therefore, generally, degree of ripeness or condition. Myinvention is not, however, restricted in use to this field and isadaptable and may be employed for the sorting or color classification ofany other articles, for example, coil'ee beans, peanuts, and the like,which, when subjected to light focused thereon from a source, arecapable of reflecting rays of light having a I plurality of constituentcolors. Furthermore,

the machine possesses utility broadly as a sorting device irrespectiveof the basis on which the sorting is made and may avail itself of anycharacteristics of the articles, 1. e., weight, hardness, strength,etc., which are capable of being proportionately expressed in the formof electric impulses.

In the embodiment illustrated, the advantages of my machine areemphasized in view of the fact that citrus fruits ordinarily varythrough a wide range in the color thereof. It is of great practicalimportance to sort such fruits thoroughly in order to have articles ofthe same color crated together, or to remove overrlpe and underripespecimens or for other reasons, and it has heretofore been possible toaccomplish such color sorting only by hand, a process which is slow and,in addition, by no means free from error. After a short interval oftime, the most skilled sorter is unable to detect differences in colorwithin a very appreciable range, due to fatigue of the eye; thereafterhis work is totally unsatisfactory.

The present machine is eminently suited for the sorting of such articlesor any articles having a considerable range of color variation, in viewof the fact that its operation is based on an analysis of colored lightreflected from the articles to be sorted and a consequentelectro-mechanical sorting procedure in strict consonance with and bymeans of the information gained from this analysis of the articles. I amaware that it has hitherto been proposed to assort articles bydiiferences in absolute intensity and diflerences in intensity of lightreflected from the articles relative to a standard. In my priorcopending applications Serial No. 711,374, filed February 15, 1934, nowPatent No. 2,131,095 dated September 2'7. 1938, and Serial No. 49,727,filed November 14, 1935 now Patent No. 2,131,096, dated Sept. 27, 1938,I disclose machines assorting according to light intensity.

The present invention differs materially from prior art devices and thesubject matter of the above noted applications in that in the instantinvention I provide photoelectric means for viewing or scanning thearticles through a plurality of color 'fllters or screens so as toanalyze light reflected from the articles according to the relativeintensity of at least two of its color components.

In thespeciflcation to follow I employ the term "color reflectivity todesignate the property possessed by the surface of an article ofreflecting a certain component of a multichromatic light to which it isexposed. However, I would not consider it a departure from the spirit ofthis invention should it be foimd desirable to use fluorescent lightexcited by a shorter wave length. Although this would not involve truereflectivlty," nevertheless the effect on the light sensitive scanninginstrumentality would be the same and I consider such an expedientwithin the scope of my invention.

In the machine of my invention, photoelectric impulses generated fromsuch a scanning, that is, the separate primary signals, eachproportional in strength to the percentage reflectivity of a certaincolor present in the light reflected from the surface of an articlebeing sorted, are transmitted to the deflection plates of a cathode raytube. The resulting electrostatic field set up between the respectivedeflection plates causes the electron stream or beam of the cathode raytube to be deflected in one' dirctlon or another on the fluorescentscreen thereof. By associating a sentinel means unit in this embodimentand a photoelectric viewingmeanswith the screen of the cathode ray tubeand blocking out or masking desired portions of said screen, it ispossible to expose the sentinel means to the spot or trace on the screenproduced by the electron beam in whichever portion of the cathode rayscreen it is desired. Bearing in mind that the beam deflection arises asa manifestation of the particular color of an article viewed, forinstance, a defective article, it will be seen that the luminous spot ortrace thus produced on the screen, if masked from the view of theviewing means, will cause no further action, but if it is permitted tobe viewed by the photo-cell or -tube, the latter instantaneouslyoriginates a secondary impulse. The impulsegenerated in the saidsentinel means may be then amplified and transmitted by suitableinstrumentalities to an ejector mechanism and the undesirable articleejected.

, The flexibility of my improved machine will be appreciated when it isrealized thatby suitably masking the cathode ray screen in an almostinfinite number of ways an almost infinite number of gradations inrelative color reflectivity of articles will be recognized by thephotoelectric tube and any one thereof ejected if desired. On the otherhand, if desired, the cathode ray screen may be so masked that all,except a certain class or coloration of articles, no matter how large orhow small the class, will be ejected. It is only necessary that acertain grade or color of article he run through the machine in order tofix the point at which the cathode ray beam impinges on the screen whena given article passes the scanning tube; and the screen may be maskedto pass only the beam trace characterizing articles of that color or ofa range of color adjacent that color and accordingly set the machine toeject those articles, or, on the other hand, the mask may be selected toobstruct that beam trace and set the machine to elect all articlesexcept those of that color or that range of color.

So far as I am aware, it is broadly novel to adapt the cathode ray tubeto an asserting machine of the type described. Up to the present, thecathode ray tube has been restricted in its application to its use as ananalysis or testing device, generally in the laboratory and moreparticularly in servicing radio receiving and transmitting apparatus,and in television. Its use in the cathode ray oscillograph is wellknown. To

my knowledge, all other practical or industrial adaptations of thecathode ray tube are at most experimental; the idea of employing thesame as an element of a control apparatus in combination with aphotoelectric viewing means and a selectively variable mask, eitherbroadly or for the particular adaptation in a sorting machine, which Ihave deemed it expedient to illustrate, have, so far as I am aware,never occurred to anyone prior to myself.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l indicates asupporting standard, table, or framework of the machine of my invention,the said framework rotatably supporting an article carrier wheel orconveyor 2 journaled on an upright axis and having a plurality ofarticle ca rying seats 3 thereon. A supporting bracket I on framework Icarries a lamp housing 5 and an ejector mechanism generally indicated atG,

consisting of a battery of ejector hammers I located at one side of andabove wheel 2.

The framework I also supports the electrical amplifying and controlapparatus generally indicated 3. This consists of a scanner amplifyingsection 3, a sentinel impulse amplifying and control section II. and .anintermediate enclosed section II, wherein are mounted various controlmechanisms to be hereinafter described. For a more particulardescription of the elements constituting these sections. reference willbe had to the wiring diagram to be hereinafter described.

Adjacent the front of framework I, I mount a housing l2 enclosing aplurality of cathode ray tubes l3. Cathode ray tubes of the RCA 908 typehave been found to be satisfactory. This type of tube uses anelectrostatic field between the plates to control deflection of thebeam. It is obvious that electromagnetic deflection of the cathode raybeam is very similar to electrostatic deflection and it is of coursepossible to employ electromagnetically controlled tubes, such as the RCA903, in my apparatus. However, voltage amplification is quite as easilyaccomplished as current amplification and it is believed to bedefinitely easier to approach absolute proportionality with voltageamplification.

Each tube is operatively associated with a photoelectric cell designatedby the reference numeral I4 and for convenience hereinafter referred-toas a sentinel' tube, the said sentinel tubes being placed in operativerelation directly adjacent the cathode ray screen (see Fig. 5). On thisscreen I place a mask IS the function of which has been alluded to andwill be more particularly pointed out; As illustrated in Fig. 1, eachphotoelectric sentinel tube H has a dome l6 enclosing the same andshielding it and also the cathode ray screen from external light. On oneside of the machine, I mount a box 16! adapted to contain transformers,rectifiers, and filters, which will be hereinafter more particularlydescribed.

Rearwardly of the cathode ray tube housing l2 and control section I0, Imount a delay commutator or detainer and a rotary switch. generallydesignated l1 and '3, respectively. Means in the form of a motor (notshown) is provided for rotating article carrier wheel 2, and rotaryswitch 13 is driven from the wheel through a chain I! so that it isrotated in timed relation with the article carrying wheel. In thepresent case, then-elation is such that rotary switch '8 makes onerotation in the time it takes a pair of article seats} to pass apredetermined poin Detainer I1 is driven from rotary switch It by meansof a chain 23 enclosed in a shield 2|. the ratio of rotary switchangular speed to detainer angular speed being six to one. In otherwords. detainer l1 makes one rotation in the time it takes six articleseats to pass a predetermined point. The detainer and rotary switch areDrovided with brush supporting brackets 22, 23,.respectively, adjacentthe same. The brushes carried by these brackets and the arrangementthereof with reference to the detainer and rotary switch, as well as theelectrical connections from the brushes to the various other parts ofthe machine, will be hereinafter particularly referred to Referring toFigs. 2 and 3, the lamp housing 5 consists of a shell 2 which issubstantially in the form of an ellipsoid internally, the internalexposed surface thereof being made up of a plurality of mirrors 25suitably secured as by cementing to the shell. An illuminating lamp 26is arranged in the housing substantially at one focus thereof. The feedwire for the lamp is indicated by the reference numeral 21. Passages 23are cut in the housing to provide for the passage of the article seats 3of the conveyor and articles 29 thereon. The housing is positionedrelative to the conveyor so that the articles 23 pass substantiallythrough the other focus of the ellipsoid. A pair of reference backgroundmembers 30 are secured to the housing at either side of the path oftravel of the articles therethrough. These furnish a background for thearticle being viewed, and are viewed by the photoelectric scanner meansduring the normalizing operation to be hereinafter described.

I mount photoelectric article viewing means,

generally designated 3i, 32, in the lamp housing on either side of thepath of travel of the articles, each consisting of a cylinder 33inserted and fixedly secured in an opening in the housing and serving tomoimt a lens 34, a color filter 3H and a photoelectric article viewingtube. There are four such photoelectric tubes, designated by thereference numerals 35, 36, 31, and 38. Forconvenience, they will behereinafter referred to as scanner tubes. The tubes are enclosed inhousing 40 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and are arranged in themanner shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. It will be noted that eachscanner tube,

is provided with its separate lens and color filter. Likewise, each tubehas a separate viewing cylinder 33 and the latter is provided with aprojecting lid ll adapted to shield its cell from the direct rays oflamp 26.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the right side of thelemon is viewed by scanner tubes 36 and 33, the left side by scannertubes and 31. By using red-sensitive tubes, redtransrnitting filters,and suitable associated amplifying apparatus, tubes 35 and 38 make anextremely rapid measurement of the reflectivity of the lemon withreference to red light. similarly, green-sensitive tubes 36 and 31,aided by greenisolating filters and an independent amplifying channel,make measurement of reflectivity with reference to green light. Thesemeasurements appear as voltages at the output of the amplifier, whichwill be detailed subsequently.

In Fig. "I is presented graphically, using rectangular coordinates, redand green reflectivity measurements of several familiar kinds of fruitselected on account of color. An examination of this chart shows thatvery dark objects appear near the top, very bright ones near the bottom,gray ones somewhere on the line "black to white. Yellow objects locatenear e, orange ones near 1', dark red ones near 17, pale green ones near0, deep green ones near a. Every object has a location somewhere on thiscolor field and the location is in general characteristic of itsappearance. Objects of the same hue appear on radial lines such as mnand mp originating at the apex marked black." Their distance from thisapex is a measure of their brightness. Arcs such as tu and rs indicateessentially zones of equal brightness.

It is evident from the diagram that the color of the tangerine i differsfrom that of the green apple 0 in hue while of practically the samebrightness. The green apple 0, on the other hand, differs from the lemonb in brightness, but registers almost identical hue. The light greenlemon b may be distinguished from the dark greenlemon a by either hue orbrightness, but

the brightness distinction is muchlarger.

Thevariou's'aforementioned objects whose relative color reflectivity.isreadily and accurately -'inclic'ate'd' on the cathode ray screen asillustrated in Fig. 7 have been measured in the lab:

oratory to determine the actual color reflectivity thereof by comparisonwith a standard. The following percentages of light reflecting char-These figures, determined by actual laboratory 'measurement, correspondexactly with the indications of hue and brightness as determined for thesame articles by the scanner and cathode ray tube arrangement of myinvention. Were a chart similar to that of Fig. 7 superposed on thecathode ray tube screen, it would be possible to instantly and exactlyascertain the light reflecting characteristic of any article asexpressed in terms of the percentage reflectivity of any two differentcolors present in the article by employing suitable fllters.

It is well known that the luminous spot on the screen of a cathode raytube may be deflected in two independent directions by voltages appliedto certain deflecting electrodes or plates, and in the embodiment of myinvention illustrated, the voltages representing the two reflectivitymeasurements are so applied to the deflecting plates of cathode raytubes as to delineate both the hue and brightness as shown in Fig. 7.

By means of the scintillator brush and associated mechanism to beexplained later, it is provided that the cathode beam. is extinguishedmost of the time, appearing only momentarily when the object is centeredin the field of view. Thus, each object is represented by a dot of.light on the screen and it is evident that by covering any desiredsections of the screen with opaque material the scintillationscorresponding with certain colors and brightnesses would not be vis ibleto an observer. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, suchmasks are employed to prescribe the types of lemons to be accepted orrejected.

The observer is represented by a sentinel photo-tube and associatedmechanism ever alert to detect the scintillation and register its ap-,

pearance by a charge on the delay commutator or detainer, to bedescribed, which, after an interval sufllcient to bring the lemon beforeone of the ejectors, actuates that ejector and removes the lemon.

The particular color of the fllters employed and the type of photo-tubeare of course susceptible of change depending upon the nature of thearticles being Judged. Red and green fllters are preferable in thesorting of citrus fruits, such as lemons, oranges, and the like, forobvious reasons.

The construction and operation of the oathode ray tube are in generalknown; however, it may be well to state briefly the principles ofoperation of the same with reference to the manner in which it isrelated to the present invention.

Iii-general, a cathode ray tube consists of an evacuated or gas filledenvelope wherein are mounted a cathode adapted to emit a stream ofelectrons when heated and means for heating the same, a plurality ofcontrol grids or electrodes, usually two, an anode cooperable with saidelectrode in accelerating and focusing the stream of electrons emittedfrom the cathode when the same is heated into a beam, and a plurality ofvertical and horizontal deflection plates, four in number, arranged inpairs above and below and at the sides of the said beam. Thesedeflection plates are connected to potential sources, the horizontal toonce source and the vertical to another source. In a balanced or neutralcon.- dition of the plates, the electron stream flowing therebetween isin the form of a straight line beam from the cathode longitudinally andcentrally of the tube. The end of the tube is coated with a fluorescentpreparation which, when struck by the negative electron particles of thebeam, becomes luminous at the point struck. If one of the horizontaldeflection plates be rendered negative in charge relative to the other,the negative stream of electrons will be deflected away from the lowerpotential plate and towards the higher. The same situation obtainsrelative to the charging of the vertical deflecting plates;

-- i. e., the stream will be deflected vertically towards the plate athigher potential and away from the plate at lower potential.

Applying these principles to my adaptation of the cathode ray tube, itis apparent that impulses originating in scanner tubes 35, 36, 31, and38, by causing the beam trace to be deflected to one side or the otherof the theoretical line black to "white in the diagram, accuratelyindicate the relative color reflectivity, or the hue of an articlescanned, while the distance the trace is deflected along one of theisochromatic lines, such as mp or mn', or from the black apex, gives ameasurement of the brightness of the reflected light, whatever its huemay be.

It will 'be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description sofar that my scanning and cathode ray translating apparatus is capable ofbeing considerably altered without afiecting the manner of operationthereof. For example, instead of employing a'pair of fred" and a pair ofgreen filtered scanner tubes with the tubes of each pair generatingseparate impulses, which are later blended to furnish separate compositered and green" impulses, it is of course possible that two independentviews of the article may be made, one on each side thereof, thereafterblending the two views and exposing a pair of photo-tubes to theresultant blended view through two red and green filters, respectively.In other words, the light could be mixed rather than the electricalimpulses resulting from the light. This, of course, would cut down ,thenumber of photo-tubes and filters from four to two and minimize anypossible difliculty of phototube matching.

It may be found to be of advantage in assuring a strong signal fromsentinel tube M to adopt as a screen material for the cathode ray tubeone of the well known series of materials giving a red trace, so that apowerful caesium phototube can be used as the sentinel tube. This wouldenable the sentinel to pick up the cathode ray trace without greatsensitivity demands upon the sentinel amplifier.

' awaaao As'a possible further modification of my invention, comingwithin the scope of the appended claims, it is indeed'quite possiblethat the sentinel tube might be omitted entirely so long as some othermeans were provided to initiate a secondary signal in accordance withthe position of the cathode ray beam. For example, as illustrated inFig. 8, by employing a suitable sensitive foil or plate 4"! inside oroutside the cathode ray tube envelope connected to a take-off lead 4| I,it is conceivable that the beam falling on such an element could sufficeto bias a gas filled discharge tube directly, without the interventionof either a photo-tube or an amplifier. Of course, the inability toconveniently alter the shape of such an element to alter the type ofobjects sorted would interfere with the commercial practicality of suchan expedient. However, it is referred to as a possible extension of, thebasic idea of the present machine.

Primary impulses originating in scanner tubes 35 and/or 33 are amplifiedby a two-stage amplifier generally indicated by the reference numeral42, including a pair of triodes 43, 44 of the type generally designatedas 56" and technically known as unipotential cathode triodes.whilescanner tubes 36, 31 are connected to a similar amplifier. In viewof the fact that the wiring for the amplifier circuits for tubes 35, 33on the one hand and tubes, 31 on the other hand, is identical, only onethereof will be described and corresponding reference numerals will beused for the other.

The output of amplifier 42 is impressed on a cathode ray tube i3. Thereare a plurality of such cathode ray tubes, the number thereof dependingupon the number of hammers or ejectors l which it is desired to actuate,and each cathode ray tube is connected'so as to be capable of actuatingany one of the hammers. For the purpose of simplification, only one ofthese identical cathode ray tube-to-hammer circuitswill be described.The corresponding parts of the other circuits will be denoted by similarreference numerals. It should be understood, however, that the number ofcathode ray tubes which may be employed is in no way limited and if itwere desired to sort articles into five, ten, or more receptacles, amere multiplication of the elements and connections which I shalldescribe would accomplish this result.

Cathode ray tube l3 has mounted adjacent thereto a photoelectric tube l4which is adapted to be selectively exposed or not to the beam trace onthe screen of the cathode ray tube, depending upon whether the mask Iithereon permits said beam trace to reach, or prevents it from reaching,the photoelectric tube l4 and thereby originating what may be termed asecondary impulse or signal. Because of the function which it fulfills,the said photo-tube is referred to as a sentinel tube.

Regarding mask l5, it may be formed of any material which is opaque andcapable of having a light admitting opening or openings formed therein.In developing this invention and in actual practice in the machineillustrated, I have found that ordinary electricians adhesive tape isadmirably well suited to this purpose, inasmuch as it is opaque and aplurality of strips thereof may be adhered to the outside of the screenin any desired position so as to mask off all portions of the screenexcept a predetermined area or areas through which the beam trace is tobe viewed by the photoelectric sentinel tube l3 or which is to activatethe sentinel tube. In this connection, reference is again made to thelatitude available in disposing the masks on the screen to sort a widerange of colors, no matter what the construction of the mask per se maybe. As stated above, all of the screen may be rendered opaque except acertain small area whereby to pass the beam trace when caused to bedeflected to that area by a certain small range of colors. This area maybe enlarged at will to increase the range of the said color, or on theother hand a smaller or larger area may be rendered opaque whereby allarticles save those in the range protected by that area will be ejected.

Other manipulations of the mask will suggest themselves. For example,the same may be made opaque throughout except in a plurality ofportions, whereby to eject articles of different color causing adeflection of the beam to those various portions.

A further aspect of my invention resides in the fact that with thehammers disconnected a number of articles may be placed on the articleconveyor, for example, articles of various colors'other than a givenstandard acceptable color. If a photograph of the entirely exposedcathode ray screen be now taken, so as to record on a negativephotographic film the positions of the luminous trace under the variousinfluences of the different colored articles and controlled by thescintillator mechanism to be described, it is apparent that a positivetransparency of the negative may thereafter be employed as a mask forthe cathode ray tube, thus eliminating the necessity of makingindividual masks each time a group of articles is to be sorted. On theother hand, if a group of standard colored articles, all acceptable,

be employed as test objects and the exposed screen photographed, theresultant negative may be used as a standard mask which will thereaftergovern the cathode ray tube l3 and sentinel i4 to initiate ejection ofall articles other than the acceptable standard colors. From this itappears that the device of my invention lends itself to use in makingits own control elements.

The secondary impulses originating in sentinel tube I4 are amplified bythe multiple-stage amplifier tube 45 and pass from the plate thereof toa grid controlled gaseous discharge tube 46. The plate of this tube isconnected to a selector switch 41. The grid controlled gaseous dischargetube 48 furnishes the actual signal which actuates the electromagneticejector mechanism 3, but between tube 48 and selector switch 41 Iinterpose the delay commutator or detainer II, which times impulses onthe grid of tube 48 so that they occur only when an article seat 3 isdirectly before a hammer l. Detainer ll withholds ionization ofdischarge tube 46 until a secondary impulse has been impressed on thegrid thereof. When this happens, the condition of the detainer isaltered by a condenser discharge, to be described, with the result thatafter a predetermined interval, the discharge tube 48 is fired and theejector actuated.

I preferably provide means in the form of a suitable conducting lug onrotary switch I 8, engaged by a scintillator brush, to ignite thecathode ray tube only intermittently and durin a very short period inthe scanning cycle, namely, when the articles being sorted are exactlyin scanning position before the scanner tube, or, if desired, midwaybetween articles. This causes the sentinel I4 to view a beam trace inthe form oi a small distinct dot. Such provision, of course,

greatly increases the life of the cathode ray tube, whichwouldbelikelytowearoutorcrackin a relatively short time were itpermitted to operate continuously.

The various particulars of the hookup will now be described. Thereference numeral 4! indicates an alternator or source ofaltematingcm-rent; the terminals of which are connected to the primary50 of a transformer 51 having a plurality of secondary coils. Fromcertain of these coils I derive a potential, rectified through theall-wave rectifier 52, for the anode circuits of the scanner tubes andthe amplifiers described above, the said potential being smoothed out bythe pulsation eliminating chokes 53, ii and condensers 55, 55 across theterminals thereof. Other 01' the secondaries furnish a voltage which isrectified by the half-wave rectifier tube 51. This voltage traverses a30,000-ohm resistor and serves as a fixed potential for the cathode rayanode.

The cathode ray grid voltage is controllable by the 20,000-ohmpotentiometer 53. The voltage for the first anode of the cathode raytube is controllable by an adjustable tap on the 36,000-ohmpotentiometer 50. The voltage dropping resistors 63, 14 of 33,000 and100,000 ohms respectively, along with potentiometers 55, constitute avoltage divider generally designated ii. The filament of the cathode raytube is connected to the transformer filament winding as indicated bythe reference characters 1:, 1 One of the horizontal and one of thevertical deflecting plates, as well as the second anode, of the cathoderay tube are connected to ground at 52. The control grid and first anodevoltages are variable by adjusting potentiometers 59 and il. Aresistance 65 of 1 megohm is included in the line from the adjustabletap on potentiometer 55 to the cathode ray tube.

A voltage divider, generally indicated by the reference numeral 55, madeup of a 1000-ohm resistor 51, a 100-ohm resistor 63, a 100-ohmpotentiometer 69, a 20-ohm resistor II, a GO-ohm potentiometer II, a2000-ohm resistor 12, and a 200-ohm resistor I3, is connected betweenthe output of rectifier 52 and a further voltage divider, generallyindicated by the reference numeral I4, which is employed for energizingthe scanner tubes and amplifier l2 and for matching and controlling thesame. The anodes of scanner tubes 35, 36, 31, 38 are adjustably tappedto parallel 4000-ohm potentiometers 15, 15 respectively in the lastnamed voltage divider, and a suitable high resistance I1, say of 3megohms, is interposed between the cathodes of those tubes and the minusside of the scanner amplifier voltage divider l4. Aside frompotentiometers I5, 15, the voltage divider ll consists of the 40-ohmresistor 13, the 200-ohm potentiometer I9, the 20-ohm resistor 30, the'IOO-ohm resistor ll, the loo-ohm potentiometer l3, and the 55- ohmresistors 83. The cathodes of amplifier tubes 43, ll are connected tothe adjustable tap of potentiometers 02 and I! as illustrated.

The plate of the triode amplifier I3 is connected to the grid ofamplifier 44 through a .25-microfarad condenser 35; i. e., the twoamplifier tubes are capacity-coupled. A normalizing switch 86 is placedin shunt from a point between condenser 35 and the grid of tube II to apoint between resistors II and 3! in the scanner amplifier vol a edivider.

In practice, this switch 35 takes the form of a rotary commutator havinga circuit-making conducting lug thereon, substantially as disclosed inmy Patent No. 2,131,006, dated September 27, 1938, this commutator beingdriven in synchro nismwiththe conveyorzsoastomomentariiy close a circuitthrough switch 35 between meanningperiodsirom thegridoftubelltovoltagedivider II. The said commutator mayconvenientlybearrangedasapartofrotaryswitch I3, but the actual detail ofcousin-action has not been shown, in order to avoid complicating andconfusing the disclosure. Sufiice it to say thatthesaidrecurrentlyactuatedswitchliaerves toestablishasuitablebiasonthegridottube fleachtimethesameisclmed. Thisimtantaneous setting of thetube to a normal condition between scanning operations I refer to asnormalizing.

The plate of amplifier tube'l3 isoonnected to the plus side of thevoltage divider ll through a 5000-ohm resistor 31.

The plate of amplifier tube ll is connected through a200,000-ohmresistor Bl to the plus side of resistor 13 of voltage divider 55. Theoutput of the red scanner amplifier tube 44 is connected to the verticaldeflection plates of the various cathode ray tubes, while the output ofamplifier tube M for the "green" scanner is applied to the horizontaldeflection plates or the various cathode ray tubes.

Potential for the anode of ll adjacent cathode ray tube I3 is suppliedIran a connection to the voltage divider 55 between re- Sistorsfl and i3andthissourcelikewiseserves to supply a plate voltage for the plates ofthe twin triode amplifier tube 45, which is the type generally referredto as a 53. The cathode of sentinel tube 54 and the first grid of tube45 are connected to ground through a suitable high resistor 35 of 15megohms. Resistors 5|, 9] are 200,000-ohm plate circuit resistors fortubellandthegridhiasforhibcfiiscontrolled by an adjustable tap onresistor H.

The cathode or the sentinel tube M isconnectedtotheiirstgridofthetwintriodembe 45 and the plate of the firsttriode element of tubeliisconnectedtothesridofthcsecimd' iu'iode elementof that tube through the ill-microfarad condenser 33 so as to effect acapacitycoupling therein, and the said last named grid has .a 0.2-megohmresistor 53 between the same and ground.

The output of the amplifier tube 45 isimpressedonthegridofthesmallgridcontrdled gaseous discharge tube 5through a (Ll-microfarad condenser SI and a 10,000-ohm resistor 35. AOil-megohm resistor 35 is inserted between thedischarge sideoicondenser35andanadjustable tap on voltage divider resistor 55 to vary the bias onthe grid of tube 45. A 0.01-microfarad condenser i'l between the grid oftube 45 and groundservestoavoidhesitationintheperformanceoftubeli.Thecathodeoftubeli isconnectedbetweenthem-ohmandmmohm resistances 38,53, respectively, of a voltage divider generally designated Ill, andalso to ground through the OJ-microiarad cmdenser iii. One end ofvoltage dividmill'is connected to ground and the other endis connectedthrough conductor ll! toalinewhichinturnis cgiamected to the filteredISO-volt D. C. source The plate oigaseousdischargetubeliisconnected tothe selector switch 41, the variouscontactlugsofwhichareconnectedwithbmshes on delay commutator or detainerII. By flfis switch, I amable to connect the gaseous discharge tube 40actuating any one of ejector hammere 1 with any one of the cathode raytube circuits. As illustrated, the switches 41 are arranged to connecttheir respective cathode ray circuits with the gaseous discharge tubecircuits immediately adjacent the same. However, the

arrangement might be an entirely difierent'one or, if desired, one ormore of the switches might be disposed in of! position so as not to makeconnection with any of the discharge tube circuits.

The contact lugs of switch 41 are each connected through a GOOD-ohmresistor I04 to a brush I05 riding on the periphery of detainer I1. Thisdetainer carries a plurality of spaced sets I06 of condenser and brushengaging conducting elements or lugs, the condensers and conducting lugsbeing indicated by the reference numerals I01, I08 respectively. Thereare in the illustrated example six such sets spaced equallycircumferentially of the detainer. Each set consists of three condensersI01 each having a plate connected to a conducting lug I08 and spacedaxially along the detainer. The condensersl'l are of 0.25 microfaradcapacity. The brushes I06 are spaced axially of the detainer tocorrespond to the axial spacing of the lugs and condensers, so that eachbrush engages one of the circumferentially alined and spaced lugs I08 ofthe several sets. The other plate of each condenser is connected to acontinuous conducting ring I08 on the detainer. It will be appreciatedthat the expedient of illustrating the elements of sets I06 in radialorder has been adopted only to simplify the disclosure. It is believedthat in the light of the foregoing description the actualcircumferential and axial disposition of condensers I01, lugs I08, andbrushes I will be clear.

I provide further peripherally and axially spaced brushes IIO, one foreach ejector hammer 1, these being connected respectively to one end ofthe three coils III of the iron core step-down transformers III in thedischarge tube circuits. The other ends of the respective coils III areconnected to a still further brush III which rides on the continuousconducting ring I08. Brush II! is connected to the aforesaid D. C.source I03 through a 30-henry choke H3 and serves to maintain a chargeon the innermost plate of condensers I01.

The three brushes IIO are spaced axially to engage the respectiveaxially spaced lugs I08 and furthermore they are spaced peripherallyfrom one another and from brushes I06.distances in proportion to thespacing of the three ejector hammers 1v from the viewing station or arein engagement with brushes I00 at the moment an article on the wheel isbeing viewed by scanners 86, I8, 81, I8.

The. foregoing construction of detainerand brushes constitutes a delaytiming mechanism somewhat similar in function to the instrumentalitydescribed in my above mentioned Patent No. 2,131,096. andtherein-referred to as an isochronous ejector mechanism. The presenttiming or delay mechanism is shown and claimed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 244,821, filed December 9,1938; An impulseoriginating in sentinel tube I4 and considerably amplified throughamplifier tube 46 will be impressed on the grid of gaseous dischargetube 46 at the instant an article is scanned, assuming that the cathoderay trace has been permitted by mask I6 to impinge the sentinel tube. Atthis same instant, brushes I06 engage lugs I88. Immediately field inlamp housing 6. For example, with the hammer nearest the viewing fieldspaced a distance from the lamp housing equal to approximately thedistance between three and one-half article seats on the conveyor wheel,the first brush IIO will be circumferentially spaced from brushes I05 adefinite proportionate distance in the direction of movement of detainerI1. Since the second or middle hammer 1 is spaced from the first hammera distance equal to the distance between article seats, the second brushH0 will be spaced from the first brush IIO a distance prior to thisengagement, the plates of condensers I 01 are in an equally chargedcondition, by reason of the voltage impressed thereon through brushes H0and III from source I83, and when the engagement of lug I88 and brushI06 takes place the outermost condenser plate discharges on the plate ofone of the tubes 46, depending on the setting of switch 41, causingthattube to fire. In the event that no impulse or signal has been receivedon the grid of tube 46, of course, ionization will not take place. Thebias of tube 48 may be properly set by an adjustable tap onpotentiometer H to a suitable value. The events attending the scanningof the article and the ionization or non-ionization of tube 06 may beregarded as occurring in what may be termed an instantaneous scanningand signalling period.

The detainer I1 now rotates until the conducting lugs I08 reach andengage brushes IIO. Since the outermost plate of one of the condensersI01 has been assumed to have discharged, it follows that that condenseris in an unbalanced condition so that when its lug I08 engages thecorresponding brush IIO the plates of the condenser will beshort-circuited. This short circuit includes the coil III'of transformerII! and the result is that a distinct signal is sent through thesecondary coil Ill of the transformer onto the grid of gaseous dischargetube 48. The interval during the rotation of detainer I1 to bring thelugs I08 into contact with one or another of brushes IIO corresponds tothe time required for.

conveyor wheel 2 to transport an article from the housing 5 to aposition before one or another of the ejector hammers 1. It may bedesignated the detaining or timing and ejecting period.

It need hardly be stated that if the tube 46 has not been'fired, thencondensers I01 remain in balanced condition and the tube 48 is notlighted.

I illustrate six sets I06 of condensers and conducting lugs. Detainer I1is driven in synchronism with article carrying wheel 2 so far as thelinear speed of the article bearing seats and sets I06 is concerned.Therefore, in the embodiment shown, detainer I1 will make one revolutionin the length of time that it takes sixarticle seats to pass a givenfixed point, or stated otherwise, the length of time between thedeparture of one set of conducting lugs I08 from angular alinecondensersI32.

is disposed between the terminals of coil III. The grid of tube 48 isgiven suitable bias [by connecting the same through a 50,008-ohmresistor H8 and coil II4 to a point on voltage divider 86 betweenresistors 81 and 68.

A 0.02-microfarad condenser III is connected between resistor H8 and thegrid of tube 48 and to ground. with the cathode of tube 48 connectedbetween the condenser and ground.

The plate of discharge tube 48 is connected to the coil II8 of anelectromagnet, the core II9 of which functions to actuate hammer TI. Thesaid coil is connected through a -ohm resistor I28 to a brush I2Ibearing on rotary switch I8, through which plate current for tube 48 istransmitted during the ejecting period.

A scintillator brush l22.and a further brush I23 also bear on the rotaryswitch and are con- I nected through a 0.05-microfarad condenser I24 anda 500-ohm resistor 'I25.- Brush I23 is in engagement with a continuousconducting ring I26 on the rotary switch, while scintillator brush I22periodically engages a relatively small conducting segment I2I thereon.

The said segment I21 and conducting ring I26 are in conducting relationto or integral with the large or semi-circular conducting segment I28,which latter segment is engaged by brush I2I during one-half of eachrotation of rotary switch I8. The rotary switch is, as pointed outabove, driven in predetermined relation to the speed of detainer H, inthis case, six times as fast, so that the rotary switch makes onerevolution between the departure of an article seat from a given pointand the arrival of the succeeding article seat at that point. In otherwords, rotary switch I8 performs one cycle of its operations for eacharticle.

When'the small segment I2! is in engagement with'sc'intillator brushI22, the cathode ray tube I3 is energized by a surge passing through0.01- microfarad condenser I32. This takes place at the exact instantthat an article is being scanned by scanner tubes 35, 36, 31, 38; duringthe remainder of the cycle of rotation of switch I8 the cathode ray tubeis extinguished. Thus, the life of the tube is greatly increased.

The tapped resistor I38 permits a suitable fraction of the voltagepicked up by brush I22 to reach and fire the cathode ray tube.

In practice, I have found it desirable in setting the machine to be abletolight the cathode ray tube during an instant when the space betweenarticle seats is at the scanners, as well as when the seats themselvesare in position for scanning. To this end I furnish a'secondscintillator brush bearing on rotary switch I8 diametrically oppositebrush I22, and designated by the reference numeral I22. The connectionsfrom this brush to the cathode ray tube are similar to or common withthose from brush I22 to the tube so that like reference numerals primedwill be employed toidentify the secondary connections. The twopolemanually controlled switch I29 is provided to enable brush I22 or I22 tobe employed to cause the cathode ray tube to be energized at or betweenarticle seats, as will be understood.

Assuming. brush I22 to engage segment I21, then a circuit is completedfrom voltage source I83 through'brush I23, ring I26, segment I21, brushI22, resistor I25, switch.l29, a suitable resistor I38, and conductorI3I to the parallel Each cathode ray tube I3 has a control gridconnected to one side of one of these condensers. This control grid musthave a plus voltage impressed thereon for the tube to light and ifthesame goes negative the tube will extinguish. Therefore, the scintillatorsignal charges the said grid for an instant, causing tube I3 to producean instantaneous electron beam trace, which impinges on sentinel tube I4or is intercepted by mask I5, as the case may be. When the segment I2Ipasses brush I22, the tube I3 goes out, the grid charge referred toleaking 01f through resistor 65 and the adjustable tap on potentiometer59, which is set appropriately for this purpose. 1

The normal plate voltage for discharge tube 48 during the ejectingperiod is derived from voltage source I83 through brush I23, largeconducting segment I28, brush I2I (during the half revolution of therotary' switch I8 when the last named brush and segment are inconducting engagement), and through the resistor I28 and electromagnetcoil H8. The grid of tube 48 is connected by conductor I33 to a point onvoltage divider 86 between the resistors 81 and 68 thereof. The valuesof the grid bias and the plate voltage for tube 48 are such that thetube is barely held from ignition during the engagement'of brush I2I andlarge segment I28, and in order to trip electromagnet core II9, it isnecessary that a further signal be impressed on the coil of transformerI I2. This signal comes from transformer secondary II4, as explained,and when it occurs, tube 48 ionizes and hammer I trips.

The -microfarad condenser I34 and 16,080- ohm resistor I35 arranged inseries between electromagnet coil IIB and voltage source I83 serve toprevent sparking. I

The lfi-microfarad condenser I36, in conjunction with choke 2I3,constitutes a filter to quiet that part of the direct current used bythe detainer.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present machine will sortarticles through a very large range of color variations as manifested inrelative color reflectivity. It is to be emphasized that the sorting ofthis large range of colors is not on thebasis of merely the presence orabsence of an impulse in the photoelectric tube scanners as has been thecase in hitherto known photo-- electric sorting machines, but on thecontrary, the sorting of such a range of color compositions depends onthe relative strength of the impulses generated in the red and greenfiltered scanner tubes, which impulses accurately reflect the percentagecolor composition and relative brightness'of colors in the article andresult in displacement of the cathode ray trace in exact accordance withsuch composition and brightness.

For each of the combinations of signals origi nated in the four scannertubes there is a cor responding point on the cathode ray screen to whichthe cathode ray beam trace is deflected; actuation of the ejectorhammers I may be initiated by whichever of such signals is desired byappropriately masking the screen.

A feature of considerable practical value and importance in the machineof my invention resides in the ease with which any difficulties causingthe same to operate improperly may be traced. Thus, for example, if itis found that an ejector hammer I is being actuated to displace anarticle from the conveyor wheel when such displacement should not takeplace, or if it is found, on the other hand, that a hammer fails to actwhen it should, it is only necessary to remove the shield for thesentinel tube I4 and observe the screen of cathode ray tube I3 and theoccurrence of the beam trace thereon relative to the mask opening oropenings. If the beam is visible when it should be visible, i. e., whenan article should be ejected, then of course it follows that the troublelies somewhere behind, or on the ejector side of, the cathode ray tube,which considerably narrows the field to be checked. If, on the otherhand, the beam trace is not visible through the mask when it should bevisible, then it follows that failure of the hammer to act is caused bysome difliculty in front of, or on the scanner side of, the cathode raytube, which may accordingly be checked without disturbing the apparatusbehind the said tube. In this manner, the cathode ray tubes, because oftheir characteristic of permitting visual analysis of the voltagesimpressed thereon, are of great importance in my application thereof.

The herein disclosed device for delaying the actuation of the ejector,namely, detainer l1, operates as described above to insure that, oncethe impulses emanating from the sentinel tubes l4 have been ascertainedand recognized by the ionization of tube 45, the ejector will beactuated at a definite time interval thereafter. By this arrangement,perfect timing of the hammers is provided for, which is of considerableimportance in view of the fact that the various article judging, impulseamplifying, and impulse transmitting elements of the machine areinstantaneous in action and accordingly capable of being operated atexceedingly high speeds. With such po tential high speeds of operation,it becomes of primary importance to assure that the mechanical elementsof the machine are precisely and practically instantaneously actuated.The detainer l1 and elements associated therewith insure such action.

The foregoing description of my invention relates to an embodimentthereof in a machine for sorting articles on the basis of the relativecolor reflectivity thereof, but it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that the invention has broader aspects, that the structuredescribed, with minor alterations, can be adapted for the sorting ofpractically any articles on the basis of several different factors otherthan relative color reflectivity, such as weight, hardness, strength,etc, whether such factors are made independent of or dependent on oneanother. Moreover, the machine may be readily adapted for the sorting ofelongated objects, such as, for example, asparagus stalks, by the simpleexpedient of providing a conventional time sweep voltage impressed onone of the deflecting plates. By such provision, the cathode ray beamcould be swept horizontally by a sawtooth voltage and vertically with asingle impulse proportional to the brightness of the object. Using anappropriate mask providing individual brightness tolerances to eachsection of the length of the object, it is apparent that any invertedstalks or stalks of incorrect length could be rejected.

Utilizing the principle of my invention, it is, moreover, theoreticallypossible to extend the system to cover a three-color process employing adouble-beam cathode ray tube. This possibility is limited by thefact-that the sum of the three-color measurements must be a constant,which is never the case with reflectivities. In the overwhelming numberof cases in the commercial sorting field, analysis on the basis oftwo-color reflectivities is ample. Should a case occur requiringthree-color analysis, it .could be very simply handled by the structureshown and described by passing the objects first through a broadly novelwith me.

machine operating on the basis of red and green light, for example, thenthrough another operating on the basis of, say, green and blue light fora further sub-division.

The normalizing provisions of this machine are also of considerableimportance since they assure an independent judging of each article byresetting the scanner amplifier to original condition after eachscanning period.

Further advantages of the instant device will be obvious. As previouslystated, I regard the provision of a cathode ray tube in combination witha sentinel photo-tube and a mask or other governing means between saidtubes, to be used as an actuating and control mechanism, as

This arrangement constitutes a device which is of wide utility. In mycopending application, Serial No. 222,788, filed August 3, 1938, Idisclose and claim such means in various important general applicationsor adaptations.

I have illustrated and described my invention in embodiments which Ihave found highly satisfactory. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myinvention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for assorting articles according to color, articlescanning means adapted to originate an electrical impulse, articleejecting means, and means for actuating said ejecting means inaccordance with variations in light reflectivity of the articles asviewed by said scanning means, comprising a cathode ray tube having oneof the deflection plates thereof connected to said scanning means andadapted to :beactuated thereby to deflect the cathode ray beam,

in one direction, further impulse originating means connected to anotherdeflection plate of the tube for deflecting said beam transversely ofsaid first named direction, light-sensitive means adjacent the cathoderay tube adapted to View the trace of said beam in certain of 'theresultant positions of the same on the cathode ray screen produced bysaid impulse originating means, and means for controlling the positionsof the beam trace in which the same is viewed by said light-sensitivemeans.

2. In a machine for assorting articles according to color, a cathode raytube having beam deflection plates, means for originating a pair ofindependently variable signals including photoelectric article scanningmeans adapted to View articles, means for operating on said articles,and means for actuating said operating means in accordance with thevariations in relative intensity of light reflected from the articles,said cathode ray tube having one of the deflection plates thereofconnected to said scanning means and adapted to be energized thereby todeflect the cathode ray beam in one direction, another of the deflectionplates being connected to said first named means whereby to deflect thebeam transversely of said first named direction, and light-sensitivemeans adjacent the cathode ray tube adapted to view the beam trace incertain positions of the same.

3. Control and actuating means for an article sorting machine of thetype described comprising a cathode ray tube, electrical means includingmeans operable in accordance with one or more characteristics of anarticle to be sorted, said flrst named means being connected to saidtube for controlling the positioning of the beam thereof in a pluralityof directions transversely of the screen of the tube, photoelectricviewing means disposed adjacent the screen of said tube, means betweensaid viewing means and said tube for selectively exposing said screenwhereby to mask the beam trace of the cathode ray tube from the viewingmeans in various positions of the beam, said viewing means viewing thetrace in other positions thereof and generating electrical impulsesaccordingly, and an ejector mechanism controllable in response to saidim pulses.

4. In a machine of the type described, the combination of a beamemitting tube having a viewing screen, means connected to said tube fororiginating a primary impulse in accordance with a predeterminedcharacteristic of articles to be operated on, and operative to deflectthe beam of the tube in one direction, further impulse originating meansconnected to the tube to deflect the beam in a direction transverse saidfirst named direction, said impulse originating means coacting tocontrol the positioning of the beam laterally and longitudinally of thescreen of the tube, light-sensitive viewing means disposed adjacent thescreen of said tube, means for selectively exposing said viewing meansto said screen whereby to mask the beam spot of the cathode ray tube onthe screen from the viewing means in various positions of the beam meansin accordance with variations in the articles as viewed by said scanningmeans comprising a cathode ray tube having beam deflecting meansoperatively connected to said plural impulse originating means todeflect the beam of the tube in two directions transverse to oneanother, and light-sensitive means operatively associated with saidcathode ray tube and adapted to view the beam trace of said tube incertain positions only on the cathode ray screen.

6. In a machine for sorting articles according to color, the combinationof plural article scanning means, article ejecting means, means foractuating said article ejecting means in accordance with variations inrelative color reflectivity of the articles as viewed by said scanningmeans comprising a cathode ray tube having beam deflecting meansoperatively associated with said plural scanning means to deflect thebeam of the tube in two directions transverse to one another on thescreen of the tube, and light-sensitive means operatively associatedwith said cathode ray tube and adapted to view the beam trace in certainpositions only on the cathode ray screen.

7. In a machine for sorting articles according to color, the combinationof plural article scanning means, article ejecting means, means foractuating said article ejecting means in accordance with variations inrelative color reflectivity of the articles as viewed by said scanningmeans comprising means for emitting a beam producing a luminous trace,said emitting means having beam controlling means operatively connectedto said plural impulse originating means to deflect the beam in twodirections transverse to one another, and light-sensitive means adaptedto generate electrical impulses in response to said beam under certainpredetermined conditions thereof controlled by said controlling means.

8. In anarticle sorting machine, the combination of a cathode ray tube,article judging means adapted to originate a primary impulse inaccordance with a characteristic of the articles and operativelyassociated with the beam deflecting means of said cathode ray tubewhereby the beam trace is caused to traverse the cathode ray screen inone direction in accordance with the variations in the primary impulse,further impulse originating means connected to said beam deflectingmeans and operative to deflect the beam in a direction transverse theflrst named direction, the resultant positioningof the beam beingdetermined by the coacting effects of said primary and further impulseoriginating. means, light-sensitive activating means operativelyassociated with the screen of said cathode ray tube, and means forselectively exposing said lightsensitive activating means to the traceof the cathode ray tube beam in various positions of th beam.

9. In a machine for sorting articles on the basis of relative colorreflectivity, the combination of a cathode ray tube, primary impulseinitiating and transmitting means operatively associated with the beamdeflecting means of said cathode ray tube, said first named meansactuating the deflecting means to cause the beam trace to be deflectedin one dimension in accordance with the intensity of one reflected colorand in another dimension in accordance with the intensity of anotherreflected color, and light-sensitive means operatively associated withsaid cathode ray tube and activated by the beam trace.

10. In a classifying machine, the combination of a cathode ray tube,plural impulse originating means including article judging means adaptedto originate a primary impulse, said plural impulse originating meansbeing connected to said cathode ray tube whereby to control thepositioning of the beam thereof in two directions transverse to oneanother in accordance with the variations in the impulses originated bysaid first named means, light-sensitive activating means operativelyassociated with the screen of said cathode ray tube and exposed forenergization by the trace of said beam in accordance with variations inthe positioning thereof effected by said impulses, article classifyingmeans, and means controlled by said light sensitive activating means foractuating said classifying means.

11. In a machine of the type described, means for scanning articles andinitiating impulses proportional in intensity to the intensity of lightreflected from the articles, further impulse initiating means, a cathoderay tube, means connecting said tube to said impulse initiating means tocontrol the lateral positioning of the electron beam of the tube in twodirections transverse to one another. in accordance with said impulses,light-sensitive means distinct from said first named for viewing thetrace of said beam, said last named means initiating impulses inaccordance with the controlled condition of the beam,

cles from said translating means including a pluand means for limitingthe effective range of said light-sensitive means with reference to thescreen of the tube.

12. In a sorting or like machine, separate impulse originating meansincluding light-sensitive means for scanning articles, said first namedmeans simultaneously initiating separate sets of electrical impulses atleast one of which is impulses proportional in intensity to theintensity of light reflected from the articles, a cathode ray tubehaving the deflecting plates thereof connected respectively to saidflrst named separate means whereby the electron beam of the cathode raytube assumes various positions laterally and longitudinally of thescreen of the tube in accordance with the intensity of said impulses,light-sensitive means for viewing the trace of said beam in certain ofsaid positions and acti-- vated thereby in those positions, articleshifting means, and means controlled by said light sensitive viewingmeans for actuating said shifting means.

13. In a machine for sorting articles according to color, thecombination of plural article scan-' ning means, article ejecting means,means for actuating said article ejecting means in accordance withvariations in relative color reflectivity of the articles as viewed bysaid scanning means comprising a cathode ray tube having plural beamdeflecting means connected to said respective scanning means whereby thepoint of impirigement of the beam on the cathode ray screen shifts intwo directions transverse to one another with variations in .relativecolor reflectivity of the articles scanned by said scanning means, andlight-sensitive means operatively associated with said cathode ray tubeand activated by the beam trace thereof in certain positions only on thecathode ray screen.

14. The combination of a pair of article scanning means, a cathode raytube having a screen and plural beam deflecting means disposed at anangle to one another and operatively associated with and controlled bysaid respective scanning means whereby the beam of the tube is deflectedin two directions transverse to one another on the screen, so that the.point of impingement of the beam on the cathode ray screen isselectively positioned on any portion thereof in accordance withvariations in the scanned articles, light-sensitive means operativelyassociated with said cathode ray tube and activated rality of ejectingmembers operatively associated with said translating means, a cathoderay tube for each ejecting means, said cathode ray tubes having the beamdeflecting means thereof operatively associated with said scanningmeans, adjustable masking means for the cathode ray screens of saidtubes leaving only a portion thereof exposed for the transmission oflight, a light-sensitive means operatively associated with each cathoderay tube screen, and means for transmitting signals from saidlight-sensitive means and for imposing corresponding actuating impulseson said ejecting means in timed relation to said translating means.

17. In a machine for sorting articles according to color, an articlescanning means, means for translating articles successively to saidscanning means, means for selectively ejecting articles from saidtranslating means including a plurality of ejecting means operativelyassociated with said translating means, a cathode ray tube for eachejecting means, said cathode ray tubes having the beam deflecting meansthereof operatively associated with said scanning means, alight-sensitive means operatively associated with each cathode ray tubescreen, and means operatively connecting said light-sensitive means withthe ejecting means to initiate the actuation thereof.

18. In a sorting machine of the type described, means for scanningarticles, a cathode ray tube, means connecting said scanning means tothe plates of said cathode ray tube whereby to defiect the beam thereofin accordance with the relative color reflectivity of an article, meansfor controlling said cathode ray tube to cause a beam to be emittedthereby only when an article to be by the beam in certain positionsonly, and means acting on the articles scanned operatively associatedwith said light-sensitive means.

15. The combination of a'pair of electrical impulse originating meansincluding article scanning means, a cathode ray tube having a pair ofbeam deflecting means disposed at an angle to one another and connectedto said respective impulse originating means whereby the beam of thetube is deflected longitudinally and laterally relative to the screen ofthe tube and the point of impingement of the beam on the cathode rayscreen is selectively positioned on any portion thereof in accordancewith variations in the impulses, means operatively associated with saidcathode ray tube and activated by the beam in certain positions only,and means acting on the articles scanned operatively associated withsaid last named means.

16. In a machine for sorting articles according to color, an articlescanning means, means for translating articles successively to saidscanning means, means for selectively ejecting artiassorted is adjacentthe scanning means, ejector means, and means for actuating said ejectormeans including a light-sensitive element adja cent the cathode ray tubeand'means for limiting the effective range of the light-sensitiveelement with reference to the beam trace on the screen of the cathoderay tube.

19. In a sorting or like machine, means for scanning articles, a cathoderay tube, means connecting said scanning means to said cathode ray tubewhereby to control the beam thereof in one direction in accordance withthe light reflectivity of an article, means connected to the tube forcontrolling the beam in a direction transverse to the first nameddirection, means for actuating said cathode ray tube to cause a beam tobe periodically emitted thereby, article -jecting and deflecting anelectronic beam connected to said plural impulse originating means todeflect the beam in different directions transverse to one another, thedeflecting of the beam being controlled at least in part by the scanningmeans'as influenced by the articles scanned, and means activated by saidbeam when it is projected in a predetermined area of limited extent ascompared to the area throughout which it is projected as a result of thescanning of articles of varying hue and/or brightness.

21. In a sorting machine of the type described, intermittently operativearticle judging means, an electron emitting tube adapted to emit a beamof electrons and having means for controlling the position of the beam,means connecting said controlling means to said article judging meansfor deflecting the beam substantially simultaneously with the operationof said judging means, and means for initiating the emission of the beamonly at that instant.

22, In a machine for sorting articles, photosensitive means for scanningthe articles adapted to originate electrical impulses proportionate to aplurality of characteristics of the articles being sorted, sortingmeans, and means for controlling the actuation of said sorting meansfrom said scanning means, comprising a device having a viewing screenand means for producing a visible signal on said screen, meanselectrically connecting said scanning means to said device for alteringthe position of said visible signal in accordance with saidcharacteristics, and means adjacent said screen sensitive to said signalin certain positions of the same .on the screen for initiating animpulse for activating said sorting means.

23. In a machine of the type described, photosensitive means forscanning articles to be operated on adapted to'originate separateelectrical impulses proportionate to a plurality of char- -'acteristicsof the articles being sorted, means for operating on the articles, andmeans for controlling and actuating said operating means comprising adevice having means for producing a visible signal, means electricallyconnecting said scanning means to said device for altering said visiblesignal in accordance with said separate impulses, and means sensitive tosaid signal for transmitting an activating impulse to said operatingmeans.

24, In a machine of the type described, means for originating a pair ofindependently variable electrical signals, a cathode ray tube, means foramplifying and transmitting certain of said signals to one deflectionplate of the cathode ray tube, means for amplifying and transmitting theother of said signals to another deflection plate of the cathode raytube, means for restoring the amplifying means to a normal conditionbetween transmission of signals, photoelectric means for viewing thecathode ray beam trace as deflected on the cathode ray screen under theinfluence of said signals, and means periodically placing said cathoderay tube in beam emitting condition.

25. In a machine of the type described, means for originating a pair ofindependently variable electrical signals, a cathode ray tube, means foramplifying and transmitting certain of said signals to one deflectionplate of the cathode ray tube, means for amplifying and transmitting theother of said signals to another deflection plate of the cathode raytube, photoelectric means for viewing the cathode ray beam trace asdeflected on the cathode ray screen under the influence of said signals,and means periodically placing said cathode ray tube in beam emittingcondition.

26. In a sorting machine of the type described, means for conveying aseries of articles in spaced relation, photoelectric scanning means forviewing said articles, comprising a pair of photoelectric tubes eachprovided with a color filter different in color from the filter for theother whereby each filter isolates a certain part of the light reflectedfrom the articles, means for amplifying the separate impulsesoriginating in said tubes, a cathode ray tube, means for connecting theoutput of said amplifying means to the deflecting plates of the cathoderay tube, means for periodically energizing said cathode ray tube toproduce an electronic stream therein, variations in the charges on saiddeflecting plates causing the beam to be deflected on the cathode raytube screen, photoelectric sentinel means adapted to view the beam traceon said screen, a control mask associated with said screen to exposesaid I sentinel means to the beam trace in certain positions of thelatter, an electrically actuated ejector, and means for amplifying andtransmitting impulses originating in said sentinel means in response tosaid trace to said ejector including a device for timing said impulsesso as to be effective on the ejector at predetermined intervals.

27. In a sorting machine of the type described, means for conveying aseries of articles in spaced relation, photoelectric scanning means forviewing said articles, comprising a pair of photoelectric tubes eachprovided with a color filter different in color from the filter for theother whereby each filter isolates a certain part of the light reflectedfrom the articles, a cathode ray tube, means for connecting the outputof said scanning means to the deflecting plates of the cathode ray tube,means for energizing said cathode ray tube to produce an electronicstream therein, variations in the charges on said deflecting platescausing the beam to be deflected on the cathode ray tube screen,photoelectric sentinel means adapted to view the beam trace on saidscreen,

an electrically actuated ejector, and means for amplifying andtransmitting impulses originating in said sentinel means in response tosaid trace to said ejector including a device for timing said impulsesso as to be efiective on the ejector at predetermined intervals.

28. In a machine of the type described, photoelectric scanning means forviewing a plurality of spaced moving articles, comprising a pair ofphotoelectric tubes each of which is provided with a color filterdifferent in color from the filter for the other, whereby to isolatepredetermined components of the light reflected from the articles,separate means for amplifying impulses originating in said tubes andproportional to certain color reflectivity of the articles, a cathoderay tube, means for connecting the output of one of said amplifyingmeans to one deflecting plate of the. cathode ray tube, means forconnecting the output of the other amplifying means to anotherdeflecting plate of the cathode ray tube, and means for energizing saidcathode ray tube to produce an electronic beam therein, said beam beingdeflected in one dimension in accordance with the intensity of one colorand in another dimension in accordance with that of another color.

29. A sorting machine comprising an electron beam emitting tube having ascreen toward which the beam is directed, light-sensitive means forscanning objects to be sorted connected to the tube to control the beamthereof in accordance with the relative color reflectivity of an objectwith reference to a plurality of colors, the beam of said tube impingingthe screen thereof in various positions depending on said relative colorreflectivity, and means for masking the beam trace on the screen incertain of said positions.

DAVID C. COX.

